Frozen Truck

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snocrazy

Active member
I'm down in the Chicago area for work this week. Staying in Fox River Grove. Temps here dropped to -15 last night and still -5 now. I went out and started the Tahoe so that it would be all warm and toasty in 30 minutes when leaving for work. I walked outside to the truck still idling but I could smell the over heating motor. I opened the door and sure enough the heat is blowing cold and the temp gauge is pegged. Shut her down and popped the hood. The radiator is cold, the motor is cooking. Both of the coolant hoses are soft (not frozen) I think the radiator is frozen.

Any one have a good solution for thawing a radiator? I was thinking I am going to borrow a salamander heater and tarp off the front of the truck.

I have never dealt with this before. Last summer I put in a new water pump and dex cool coolant. Both from Autozone. Never checked the coolant assuming it was all good to go out of the bottle.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
are you sure your coolent is full even if you can see a bit in the overflow fill it up to the line you may be low on coolent and in the winter driving with say 1/2 your coolent gone you wont over heat until you sit and let it run
 
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matman

New member
Thaw it out first- some how -heater or garage then check the radiator coolant (NOT THE RESEVOIR) value with a temp tester. Could you have diluted the 50/50 premix coolant with extra water? Back when you worked on it did you flush the system with water? Chances are you had some pure water left in it and that could of diluted the premix you added. Just drain whatever and start over with 50/50 premixed coolant and test again if you need additional protection DRAIN OUT A HALF GALLON OR SO AND then add 100 percent antifreeze to concentrate the mixture -run engine or drive and then check temp value again. Also remove and drain the resevoir and fill that with Only 50/50 premix. Hopefully you didn't toast your water pump, check to be sure thermostat is working properly, not stuck shut or open. When in doubt just replace it. GOOD LUCK
MATMAN
 
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ezra

Well-known member
matman said:
Thaw it out first- some how -heater or garage then check the radiator coolant (NOT THE RESEVOIR) value with a temp tester. Could you have diluted the 50/50 premix coolant with extra water? Back when you worked on it did you flush the system with water? Chances are you had some pure water left in it and that could of diluted the premix you added. Just drain whatever and start over with 50/50 premixed coolant and test again if you need additional protection DRAIN OUT A HALF GALLON OR SO AND then add 100 percent antifreeze to concentrate the mixture -run engine or drive and then check temp value again. Also remove and drain the resevoir and fill that with Only 50/50 premix. Hopefully you didn't toast your water pump, check to be sure thermostat is working properly, not stuck shut or open. When in doubt just replace it. GOOD LUCK
MATMAN
Click to expand...

I think if it is a newer tahoe like 04 up there is no radiator cap just a resevoir unless it is under a bunch of plastic but I dont think so and when you pull cap on res it is under pressure
 
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snocrazy

Active member
It was low on coolant. It does not leak. Where does the coolant go? The thing runs like a champ. I replaced the intake manifold gasket a couple of years ago. Starting to think 220,000 miles is pushing this thing past its normal mechanical limits.
 
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RAC

New member
Had the same trouble this morning ! 2000 jeep 135000 , had it in monday because it was losing rad. fluid; they pressure tested. They told me it was the cap,bad spring.The resoiver is filled to the full line. Head gasket? any info would be helpful before I take it back! thanks RAC
 
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slimcake

Well-known member
Most of the time on a head gasket failure you can see compression (bubbles) in your radiator. The compression from the cylinders pushes into the cooling system. Or if it is burning af it will smoke white out the exaust. I don't know how they could pressure check and determine it was the cap because the cap must be off in order to fit the pressure tester. I would want to see the pressure test done.
 
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RAC

New member
It makes a gargaling/bubbling noise that I hear from time to time while driving .They told me it was just air bubbles in line .The cap they said had a bad spring .White smoke from exhaust is hard to tell this time of year,but the mech. has a heated garage will it smoke all the time , just start-up?
 
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snocrazy

Active member
I had replaced the entire intake manifold gasket set. All GM Parts.
Put a pressure tester on the radiator this afternoon. Revved the motor and watched at idle. No bouncing or jumping of the pressure. I have been told this is a tell tale sign when you have a coolant leak in to the combustion (head gasket).
Im just going to have to check it from time to time and keep on nursing this thing along. Thanks for all of your input.
 
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rjthunder

New member
if your truck has a electic fan that is not working, it could have over heated the truck when it was idling. but you should have seen antifreeze under the truck when it blew it out the over flow. check for tracking under the waterpump. That could leak coolant slowly while you are driving causing your coolant to get low which would show up during long idle time.
 
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booondocker

New member
Some water pump leakage is hard to detect. As stated look for tiny tracking of coolant.

Otherwise, the stuff is getting sucked into the engine from intake manifold area...or slow leak from head gasket. Intake is my guess.

Gurgling sound means low coolant most often. Make sure to use distilled water in those things if you are using dexcool.
 
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mnguy

New member
Did you check the oil? Leaking intake and head gaskets can contaminate the oil also, The oil will look milky (especially when cold) and the dipstick will have a creamy slime on it. If this is going on it needs to be fixed asap. Antifreeze is bad news for engine bearings.
 
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pistons

New member
snocrazy said:
I'm down in the Chicago area for work this week. Staying in Fox River Grove. Temps here dropped to -15 last night and still -5 now. I went out and started the Tahoe so that it would be all warm and toasty in 30 minutes when leaving for work. I walked outside to the truck still idling but I could smell the over heating motor. I opened the door and sure enough the heat is blowing cold and the temp gauge is pegged. Shut her down and popped the hood. The radiator is cold, the motor is cooking. Both of the coolant hoses are soft (not frozen) I think the radiator is frozen.

Any one have a good solution for thawing a radiator? I was thinking I am going to borrow a salamander heater and tarp off the front of the truck.

I have never dealt with this before. Last summer I put in a new water pump and dex cool coolant. Both from Autozone. Never checked the coolant assuming it was all good to go out of the bottle.
Click to expand...
Just got back from a Fire Run. Seems the fellow wanted to warm his engine so he lit some charcoal under the engine. Three hours later, two cars and the house siding are cold again.
 
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slimcake

Well-known member
pistons said:
Just got back from a Fire Run. Seems the fellow wanted to warm his engine so he lit some charcoal under the engine. Three hours later, two cars and the house siding are cold again.
Click to expand...

I shouldn't laugh but that is an old classic. Suprised we don't get called more often for that. With all the tractors and machines around my area it happens all the time.....
 
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